If you’ve been watching at all -- and it seems some have not, because this was Oklahoma State’s first true sellout of the season -- you have seen Cowboys freshman guard Marcus Smart hit huge shots, convert essential drives and just flat take the ball away from his opponents more often than seems fair.

And it’s hard to find anyone who has encountered him who does not view Smart as a phenomenal leader despite his age.

Even before Saturday, it was easy to use the phrase “does it all” to describe his efforts for the resurgent Cowboys. It wasn’t entirely accurate, though -- until 20 seconds remained in overtime of OSU’s Bedlam Series game against instate rival Oklahoma.

Trailing by three, the Sooners worked the ball to their top perimeter scorer, Steven Pledger. He already had made 3-of-5 from the 3-point line and had hit 220 3-pointers in his career. Trouble for the Cowboys? Not with Smart in the neighborhood.

“I told coach, 'Let me take him, everybody else guard their man and I'll make sure he doesn't score,' ” Smart said following the game. “I took pride in that and that was my primary plan to not let him score there at the end."

Smart simply rose as Pledger entered his shot motion, reached up and grabbed the ball. The official called a held ball.

So yeah, now Smart has done everything.

And Oklahoma State, with Saturday’s 84-79 overtime victory -- behind Smart’s 28 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals -- has won seven games in a row. The Cowboys (19-5, 9-3) stand tied for first in the Big 12 (with Kansas and Kansas State) and have a chance to win the regular-season title for the first time since 2004, which was their only Big 12 title -- and also a season in which they advanced to the Final Four.

Preseason favorite Kansas arrives Wednesday for a game that might be the biggest of the season in determining the league winner.

Here’s the thing about Smart’s game-clinching play, though. Smart has picked up lots of steals as a freshman. He averages 3.0 per game, which is one of the top five totals in Division I. He has been credited with only 19 blocks, which isn’t a bad total for a 6-4 point guard. He had one earlier on this day. It should have been two.

What Smart did to Pledger might have been considered a steal because Smart wound up with the ball, but it was every bit a blocked shot. It was more Bill Russell than Walt Frazier.

"I knew at the time that he needed a 3, and I knew once he got the ball he would try to take it,” Smart said. “I just timed it perfectly, made sure I got the ball, not foul him and the referee called it a jump ball. He's a good player and he could have easily pump-faked me and tried to get a foul, but it was just instinct and I left my feet when he did and timed it perfectly."

Of course, if a statistician wanted to give Smart credit for both a block and a steal, that might have made sense. It was that impressive.